In a statement read at the inquest at North Staffordshire Coroner's Court, Mr Williams said he had known Andrew for more than 10 years and they had in the past used drugs together.

He said: "I had not seen him for a month or so and I got a couple of texts and calls. He wanted to stay at my flat. He arrived and we sat in the flat. I had some heroin of my own. He had some of his own. We decided to take the heroin.

"I always have clean syringes. He got one out and injected himself. He used his groin as the injection site. I did not have any at that time. He sat on the bed and within a few seconds he curled over.

"I went over to him. He was going blue. I tipped some water over him. I called 999 as he was not coming round. They were telling me how to do chest compressions. The paramedics took over and he was taken to hospital."

Detective Constable Colin Rushton, based at Hanley Police Station, said there was no sign of any struggle, fight or any injuries.

Toxicologist Kerry Taylor found Andrew had alcohol and morphine in his system.

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She said: "His weight changed and he looked like skin and bones. He went into rehab and was there for eight months. He assured us everything was behind us. But little things started and he went into rehab a second time. He was not there long as my mum died and he came home.

"We just thought everything was fine. He just stopped using. He went back to being my little boy again. He started to gain weight and took a pride in his appearance. His death was a bolt out the blue. We never saw it."